Applying high-tech to explosives detection

15 Nov. 2011 -

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Last updated: 04 Nov. 2011 10:15

The detection of explosives is an issue of extreme importance that covers many areas. There are the remains of explosives after wars and local conflicts, as well as explosives used by terrorists around the world. The aviation sector and public security for instance have a problem of non-invasive detection of explosives in lugguage, suits, cars etc.

Achievements in this area are key to making civic life safer. In spite of the availability of various detectors, there are a number of problems to be resolved such as increasing sensitivity, shortening the detection time, decreasing the scanner cost etc.

The NATO Science for Peace programme is sponsoring a project aimed at developing a highly sensitive technique for explosives detection by nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Researchers from Turkey (Institute of Technology, Gebze-Kocaeli) and Russia (the Kazan State Power Engineering University and the Zavoisky Physical-Technical Institute) have been cooperating since April 2010 to develop novel quadrupole resonance (NQR) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques that provide the highest detection sensitivity in the detection of explosive compounds. It is well known that most of the explosive and narcotic substances contain nitrogen in their structure. It is anticipated that models of equipment for the detection of different nitrogen compounds and explosives will be proposed and designed by the time the project comes to an end in April 2013.